The history of Fiddler on the Roof traces back 105 years, originating with the birth of Sholem Rabinovich. In 1883, Rabinovich held the position of a "crown rabbi" and wrote humorous accounts of local politics under the pen name Sholem Aleichem, which means "peace be with you." Aleichem became a leading Yiddish author and playwright. One of his notable characters, Tevye, emerged from a collection of short stories titled "Tevye's Daughters" or "Tevye the Dairyman." These tales depict life in Tsarist Russia, where Tevye navigates decisions for both himself and his daughters, often straying from the teachings of his past.
Sholem Aleichem’s stories are set during a time of political unrest in Russia, from 1884 to 1917. The assassination of Tsar Alexander II led to repression of many peoples under his son, Alexander III. Alexander III’s son Nicholas II refused political change, censored the press, and persecuted Jews. Pogroms, an organized massacre of helpless people, (often encouraged by local government and police), spread throughout the Russian empire between 1881-1884.
Pogrom - a planned, violent mob attack which results in the killing of large numbers of people and of destruction of property, including religious buildings, usually done for reasons of race or religion. Attacks against Jews at other times and places also became known as pogroms.
The word is now also sometimes used to describe attacks against non-Jewish ethnic or religious groups. The “unofficial demonstration” that takes place at Tzeitel and Motels’ wedding is a pogrom.
In 1905, protests erupted over land reform and factory conditions in eastern europe. These protests led to the Bloody Sunday massacre, where hundreds of unarmed workers were killed. Russian rightists authored the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” a major anti-Semitic false publication, which caused the Tsar to focus more blame on the Jews.
Tsar Nicholas reluctantly signed the October Manifesto a document granting civil rights to Russian citizens, but the Tsar blamed Jews for unrest. He was quoted as saying that he felt, "sick with shame at this betrayal of the dynasty." This attitude of anti-Semitism, depicted in Tevye's stories, was prevalent in Russia and a majority of Europe for many years. This social prejudice led to the relocation of over two million Jews. The Russian Revolution of 1905 and all of its surrounding circumstances has been pivotal to the story created in Fiddler on the Roof.
Life in a Schtetl
At times, Jews were forbidden to live in agricultural communities or specific cities. They were forced to relocate to small provincial towns, which led to the emergence of shtetls, meaning "little towns" in Yiddish. Jewish life in the shtetls was hard and poverty-stricken.
Built upon the Jewish religious practice of tzedakah (charity), a sophisticated framework of Jewish social welfare emerged to address the community's needs. The Rebbe once explained that "charity" inadequately translates to the Hebrew term tzedakah. The literal meaning of tzedakah is "righteousness." It's simply the right and just thing to do.
Learning and education were the ultimate measures of worth in the eyes of this community, while money was secondary to status. Even the poorer classes in the shtetl tended to work in jobs that required the use of skills, such as shoe-making or tailoring of clothes. The shtetl had a consistent work ethic which valued hard work and frowned upon laziness.
The Perfect Story
In 1961, writers Joseph Stein (book), Jerry Bock (music), and Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) set out to transform three stories from Sholem Aleichem’s Tevye’s Daughters into a Broadway musical. Bock and Harnick, still riding the success of their Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Fiorello!, teamed up once again with producer Harold Prince, who joined them in bringing this adaptation to life.
Joseph Stein
Jerry Bock
Sheldon Harnick
Harnick and Bock’s partnership spanned 12 musicals and plays, earning numerous awards and nominations along the way. Their contributions to theater were honored with induction into the Theatre Hall of Fame.
Joseph Stein wrote for radio and television prior to his Broadway debut. He later adapted Fiddler into the screenplay for the acclaimed film version.
The Perfect Title
The title for Fiddler on the Roof was inspired by a painting called “The Fiddler” by Russian Jewish painter Marc Chagall. The fiddler is a metaphor for survival in an uncertain world through the upholding of tradition and joyous living. The original Broadway sets for Fiddler on the Roof, designed by Boris Aronson, were also based on Chagall’s work.
“The word ‘fiddler’ connected the show with music” – Sheldon Harnick, Lyricist
Enduring Legacy
The original Broadway production, which debuted in 1964, made history as the first musical to surpass 3,000 performances. It was both a critical and commercial triumph, earning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Direction, and Best Choreography. The show’s success led to five Broadway revivals, a highly acclaimed 1971 film adaptation, and lasting international popularity. It remains a beloved favorite for school and community productions worldwide.